Published January 20, 2015 at 8:56 PM Updated January 20, 2015 at 11:47 PM

President Barack Obama plans to use his second-to-last State of the Union address to Congress to maintain his influence in American politics, as the unofficial campaign to choose his successor has already begun.

Cuba is sure to be on the agenda when U.S. President Barack Obama delivers his State of the Union address Tuesday. Obama has spent the last two weeks previewing his agenda. CCTV America's Jessica Stone reported this story from Washington, D.C.

Obama will be utilizing one of his biggest platforms, a speech that will be nationally televised to tens of millions of Americans on Tuesday evening. He will outline a plan to raise taxes on the wealthiest Americans while offering broad economic benefits to the middle class. By highlighting the issue of economic inequality, Obama aims to drive a debate over middle-class economics that could be critical for the 2016 presidential campaign.

The president came out of his party’s bruising November election losses with a surprising burst of activity and a bump in approval ratings, but there are big questions about whether he will be able to sustain that momentum in the face of opposition from the new Republican-controlled Congress.

The White House has no hope of the tax proposal becoming law, but Obama’s proposal could put tax-averse congressional Republicans in the unappealing spot of blocking measures that would offer broad economic benefits to the middle class.

Potential Republican candidates Jeb Bush and Mitt Romney have been talking openly about income inequality and the need to give lower-earning Americans more opportunities.

Cuba is sure to be on the agenda for the State of the Union address.

Story in compiled with information from The Associated Press.

Former political speechwriter Jenifer Sarver discusses SOTU

CCTV America interviewed Jenifer Sarver, a former director of speech-writing for the former U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez about what to expect in Obama’s State of the Union address.

Former political speechwriter Jenifer Sarver discusses SOTU

Former political speechwriter Jenifer Sarver discusses SOTU

CCTV America interviewed Jenifer Sarver, a former director of speech-writing for the former U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez about what to expect in Obama's State of the Union address.

Historian and author Doris Kearns Goodwin discusses SOTU expectations

CCTV America’s Elaine Reyes also interviewed Doris Kearns Goodwin, the author of “Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln,” about the president’s seventh State of the Union speech.

Historian and author Doris Kearns Goodwin discusses SOTU expectations

Historian and author Doris Kearns Goodwin discusses SOTU expectations

CCTV America's Elaine Reyes also interviewed Doris Kearns Goodwin, the author of "Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln," about the president's seventh State of the Union speech.